Feeding device for presses



Jane 31 I Q i Y H. L. HETHERINGTON FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRESSES 7 Filed June 30. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRESSES Filed June 30, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 velio 7C Ian. 31, 1928. 4 1,657,537

H. L. HETHERINGTON FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRESSES Filed June 30, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I' :I n i r i I I I T 1 I I l l I I I l I I I ,I l E: If I I I I I I I i I 1 l I L I 62 ll j I'I I I l I" If I I I I 7 I I I I +1 I I I I I I H 4 I L I l I I II I II I lih I: ,i' u

Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,537

H. HETHERINGTON FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRESSES Filed June 30. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Jan. 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD L. HETHERINGTON, OF NEVJ LONDON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNUR TO THE BABGOGK PRINTING IPR-ESS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTIGUT.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR IERESSES.

Application filed June 30, 1923. Serial No. 648,775.

My invention relates to feeding devices for presses and the same is applicable to sheet feed printing presses of various kinds and to cutting and creasing presses. WVhere sheets of stock are fed by hand to a press, 1f the stock is thick the stack of sheets on the feed table is very quickly used up and considerable labor is consumed in supplying new stock to the feed table and the stack has to be replaced often. It has been common practice to provide a feed table long enough to re ceive two stacks of sheets at a time, one stack from which the feeder takes the sheets and one stack ready to be moved up into feeding position when the first one has been used up or fed to the press. As these stacks are very heavy, sometimes weighing a ton or more, it is difficult to move them manually into feeding position. The object of my present invention is to provide gravity means for advancing the stacks into position ready for feeding, with manually controlled means for controlling the feeding forward of the stacks. The invention is herein shown in several forms, in all of which there is an inclined support for the reserve stack on whichthe stack moves by gravity from a reserve into an active position.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a flat bed press showing my invention applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof,

Figure 3 is a side view showing another form of my invention.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the same construction.

Figure 5 is a side View showing another form of my invention.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the same construction.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of one of the roller bearings.

Figure 8 is a detail view of one of the roller bearings used in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, and- Figures 9 and 10 are perspective views of the slat construction used as a conveyor in the form of the invention shownin Figures 5 and 6.

Referring first to the form of my invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, I have shown herein the side frame 1 of a well known fiat press'feeder over the forward leaf 3 of the feed table. The table brackets 4 are here shown provided with extensions 5 which are inclined downwardly from the rear toward the front of the press.

There is a series -of arms 41, pivotally mounted on the studs 39 in the support 5 and there is a corresponding arm 42 pivoted on the shaft 40. These arms 41, 42 carry brake bars 44, which, when the arms 41, 42 are swung upwardly, press on the under sides of a series of anti-friction rollers to prevent them from revolving. The brake device is operated through a lever arm 43 which is secured to the shaft 40 on which the arm 42 is fixed. The lever arm 43 may be operated by the handle 45 connected to the free end thereof or it may be operated by depressing the treadle 47, which is pivotally connected to, a pitman 46 which latter is also pivoted to the lever arm 43. The spring 49 pu'lls down on the free end of the arm 42 and normally holds the brake bars 44 in contact with the rollers 35, except when the handle 45 or the treadle 47 is operated.

There are suitable supporting and stiffening members 37, 38 secured upon the bracket member 5 and these support the rails 36 on which the antifriction rollers are mounted.

In the drawings T'have shown by way of example three rows of rollers 35, the tops of which are all in a common plane which in-- clines downwardly from the rear of the press toward the front (left). These rollers are preferably all mounted with roller or ball bearings 6 so that they revolve very easily, as shown in Figure 8. I have shown a stack of sheets 33 resting againsta stop 34, which may be the rear of the front table leaf, and behind this stack there is a reserve stack 7.

Operation: While the press is in operation, the stack 33 and the stack 7, whenever the latter is present, both rest upon the rollers 35 and though they rest on an incline they do not move down because the rollers 35 are held by the brake shoes 44. When the feeder has used up the stack of sheets 33 and he is ready to advance the reserve stack 7 into position for feeding he simply presses down either on the handle 45 or the treadle 47. This swings the arms, 42, 41 downwardly and. releases the brake bars 4st from the rollers 35. As these rollers may now revolve very freely and as they are on an inclined plane, the reserve stack 7 will move by gravity on the rollers until it meets the stop 34; The handle Or treadle 47 is then released, the reserve stack is now in position for feeding, and a new reserve stack may be placed where the steel; 7 formerly rested.

In Figures 3 and 4 I employ the same, roller device for supporting, and conveying the stacks but for holding: the stacks I employ movable stops which engage the reserve stack. Herein there is a shaft 51 mounted in the supports .5 and there are leve'. arms 52 pivoted on this shaft. There is a cross bar 53 connecting, the opposite lever arms 52; and on this are carried, stops at which extend, up between some of the rollers-35 and engage the tor ard edge of the reservestaclc 7 to hold it in place. The lever arms 52 are normally held up by a; spring ol compressed between the lug 58 and the. lever arms 52. The lever arms 52 may be moved down either by: the handle 59 or by depressing, the treadle 61, which operates through. the pitmen 60 to move the arms 52 down. In this torm, the active stack 33 on. the: rollers rests against the stop 34;

and the reserve staokhrests against: the stops 54. When the stack 33 has been consumed, the feeder either presses down. on the handle 59 or the treadle (31 and this servestoanove the arms 52 down and release the stops 5% from the reserve stack 7. AIS the rollers 35 are free to turn, gravity will cause thereserve stack to move down the incline; plane, 011 therollers until it rests against the stop as. The handle or needle is thenreleasect and; a new reserve stack may be placed on the: rollers.

The device shown in Figures 5,. 6 and 7 includes a. number of shafts (52 mounted.

in the membersfi on roller bearings 8. On

these shafts there are carried sprockets (33 as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Each slat. is, secured to a linkin each chain, the whole series of." slats forming a movable platform for the stacks of sheets.

There is a brake drum 66 on one of the shafts 62.:1ndtliis is acted upon by a brake shoe. 6? carried by the lever 67. The latter may be operated either by the handle or by the treadle 71' which acts: through thepitmen 69'which are connected to the-lever 67. The brake shoe 67, normally held pressed against the drum 66 by the spring 68 whiclt presses upwardly on the lever, 671

The stacks 33 and7'both rest on the upper These chains carry a. serles of slats 6t secured thereto run of slats 6 t and these remain stationary because of the brake action on the drum it When the handle 70 or the treadlc 71 is depressed, the brake shoe UT is released from the drum (56 and as the slats list are on an inclined plane gravity will cause the stack 7 to move down with the shits until" it rests against the stop 34.

It will be apparent that in all Forms of the ii'lvention the. reserve steel-r is moved by gravity into active position so that the leadordoes not have to move the heavy load by manual labor Having described my invention, what I claim is:

l. The GOHllfJllltllJlOH with a press having a feed table, andv means for.supporting a reserve stock oi sheets for the press and adapted to be operated by gravity to more 211 stack oi? sheets from a reserve position to feeding; position and means for engaging; the start: of sheets to limit its movement WllQI'L it. rem-hes feeding positioni 2. The combinationwith a press liavirug; a. feed table, means tor supporting amesorve star-k olf sheets :tor theprcss and adaptcdltoi be operated by gravity to move, a staclc 01? sheets from a reserve. position to feeding 1o? sition, and manually' controlled means For normally preventing the operation of" said? gravity operated means.

3. The combination with a press havinga teed table means for sup mrting a reserve stack: ol? heets for the lil'GSb and ada ited to be operated by gravity to more aestaclc of sheets from a reserve position to t ceding. po sition, and treadleeontrolledlmean: iornon malty preventing the operation oil" saidgruv ity operated means.

41. The combination with a press having a feed table, a series of rollers forming airinclined support for" a stack of slicetsxtor the press and on which rollers the startle oli sheets adapted to ad ance to feeding position by gravity, and means for controlling the movement of the stuck on said rollers.

5. The combination with a press having a feed table, a. series of rollers tornringan inclined support for a stack of sheets for the press and on which rollers the stack of sheets is adapted to advance to feeding position by gravity, a liralie for. preventing said rollers :lrom revolving and manual means tor controlling the operation of said brake.

6. The combination with a press having a teed table, a reries of rollers forming an inclined support tor a stack of sheets for the press and on which rollers the stacltl of shoots edapl ed to advance to licedin r position by gravity, a make for ei'igag ing said rollers to prevent their revolving; pivoted arms carryingsaid brake, and manuatmeans for operating said armsto more said brake. 7. The combination with a press having a till III

feed table, a series of rollers forming an inclined support for a stack of sheets for the press and on which rollers the stack of sheets is adapted to advance to feeding position by gravity, a brake for engaging said rollers to prevent their revolving, pivoted arms carrying said brake, a spring acting on said arms to normally hold said brake in action, and a treadle for swinging said arms to release said brake.

8. The combination with a press having a feed table, of an inclined, endless, articulate conveyor adapted to support a stack of sheets and which is adapted to be operated by gravity to advance the stack to feeding position, revolvable supports for said conveyor, and means for controlling the operation of said conveyor.

9. The combination with a press having a feed table, means for supporting a reserve stack of sheets for the press and adapted to be operated by gravity to move a stack of sheets from a reserve position to feeding position and means for controlling the operations of said gravity operated means.

10. The combination with a press of means for supporting a stack of sheets and adapted to be operated by gravity to move said stack into position for feeding and means for engaging said stack and arresting its position when it arrives at feeding position.

11. The combination with a press having a feed table, means for supporting a reserve stack of sheets for the press and adapted to be operated by gravity to move the stack of sheets from a reserve position to feeding position, manually controlled means for controlling the movement of said stack supporting means and means operated by said manually controlled means for engaging said stack to temporarily retain it in reserve position.

Signed at New London, in the county of New London, and State of Connecticut, this 10th day of April, 1923.

HOWARD L. HETHERINGTON. 

